CULTIVATING SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABLY SPEAKING, WITH DR. DAN
Updates from the Blue Diamond Growers Sustainability Team It is a busy summer for everyone at the Blue Diamond headquarters in Sacramento. Strategic planning activities for the Board of Directors and our new CEO are urging the company on to new heights by investing in both sales growth opportunities and cost savings from efficiency improvements. The sustainability team is no exception. Here are a few of the things our team has been working on:
USDA Climate-Smart Farming Grant By the time this article reaches you, announcements should have gone out about the launch of the USDA Climate-Smart Farming Grant program. As previously reported here, Blue Diamond Growers was awarded a USDA grant for up to $45 million to support climate smart activities in your orchards over the next five years. This grant will provide funding
to our Blue Diamond Members, or those who farm Blue Diamond orchards, to implement specific conservation practices in the orchard. We also have shared previously that we have been patiently waiting for the go-ahead from the USDA to begin work on farms. We are now happy to report that the program is opening to our growers this summer to implement one or both of the following practices:
• Annual Cover Crops
• Conservation Planting (i.e., bee pasture/permanent cover near the orchard or on fallow/idle land) Unfortunately, due to on-going challenges resulting from the USDA review, we are forced to delay the launch of Whole Orchard Recycling and Hedgerow plantings until we receive more guidance and information. As this is being written, we are actively exploring options. Your Member Relations team will share updates as soon as we are able. Given the size and complexity of the grant, we are treating the rollout of this first year as a pilot to learn what works well and where there’s opportunity for improvement in the following years. As such, you can expect the application process and some of the requirements to change in future years. I want to especially thank Kabir Tumber, Sr. Manager, Membership Development & Sustainable Agriculture, Jasdeep Bains, Stewardship Specialist, and Erik Stanek, Sustainability Specialist, for all their hard work in setting up this program.
Cover crop in member orchard, Sacramento Valley, 2022
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ALMOND FACTS
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